Tasting Notes

WA100

Along with Clos St.-Jean’s Deus Ex Machina, Vieille Julienne’s 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve (200 cases produced) is the wine of the vintage. From 101-year old Grenache vines planted in sandy soils, it boasts a black/purple color as well as a gorgeous perfume of smoke, meat, blackberries, sweet cherries, creme de cassis, licorice, spice, and a hint of pine forest/underbrush. The fruit dominates in this rich, intense, remarkable effort. It requires 5-7 years of bottle age, but should keep for 35-50 years, proving to be one of the most legendary Chateauneuf du Papes ever made. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2040+.

WS96

Quite lush for a 2005, with rich, forward raspberry and boysenberry fruit layered with mocha, fruitcake and Christmas pudding notes. Intense graphite underpinning keeps it all honest. The superlong finish is loaded with raspberry ganache and Turkish coffee notes. Just grows and grows in the glass. Grenache and Syrah.

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